After the meeting with the other intergalactic delegates, Steven retreated to his quarters, feeling a mix of exhaustion and excitement. As he settled in, his communicator pinged with a text message from Connie. The message contained an update on her offsite project at an abandoned temple with an inactive warp pad.

Steven  smiled before  sitting on the bed texting her back."Glad you're having fun."  He sat waiting for her response. 

"Hey there, Mister. Just me, a warp pad, and an abandoned temple, all alone," she typed, adding a winking emoji at the end.

Steven's reply came almost instantly. "You and the temple, huh? I can't help but imagine what you're creating over there. not to mention all the secrets you're finding out."

"Oh, you have no idea. I'm exploring every nook and cranny, finding all the hidden treasures."

"If only I was there with you. Maybe we could share secrets." He followed that text with a kissy face.

"I don't think I have any secrets. You've seen all of me," she replied with a heart emoji.

"Oh... You have secrets." He gave her a winky emoji," I know...I always find something new ."

"Quite the explorer aren't you."

"You're worth exploring ."

"Well then... Allow me to give you something to eagerly anticipate exploring." She teased.

Steven swallowed hard upon reading the provocative undertones of her message. Moments later, a text message accompanied by the caption "For Mister's eyes only" appeared, causing Steven to nearly drop his communicator.

The picture displayed Connie, radiating allure with a captivating smile.

As he gazed at the image, he could not help but imagine running his fingers through her silky hair, while being captivated by her presence.

The natural light filtering through the temple bestowed an ethereal glow upon her mahogany complexion. Her pink star-patterned blouse and blue suspender shorts accentuated her curves, with the shorts discreetly revealing a subtle gap above her thighs.

"Incredibly seductive temptress," Steven whispered to himself, mesmerized by the image before him.

Despite the temptation, he refrained from reciprocating by sending a racy picture of his own.

"Remember, you chose this outfit for me today." Connie continued texting, weaving a tantalizing fusion of spice and sweetness throughout her messages, which were accompanied by more pictures exclusively meant for his eyes.

Drenched in the temple's natural light, Connie gracefully showcased her enticing physique, striking alluring poses.

 Some photos portrayed a cunning grin, others a flirtatious smirk, and a few captured her in an adorable pout.

In certain shots, her hair was swept up in a ponytail, while in others it cascaded down her shoulders.

Connie showcased her sensual appeal in different ways, alternating between exposing and covering her cleavage with her blouse buttons.

 Steven's thoughts wandered, indulging in fantasies of undressing her blouse and tasting her supple breasts, worshipping every inch of her body.

She shared pictures with Steven that focused on her thighs, offering only partial glimpses of her breasts, and showcasing her dangerously seductive allure.

Some shots displayed Connie grinning provocatively, while in others, she wore a flirtatious smile, and in a few, a mischievous smirk.

His deepest desire was to fly to Beach City and whisk her away to their shared bed. "Kept your promise about the thigh picture," he texted.

"I did. Just imagine... you could have witnessed an up-skirt view if you were kinder to me," she playfully replied with a teasing emoji.

"Acting like she doesn't enjoy my scolding," he added, accompanied by a shade and smirk emoji. "Mischievous Heartberry."

"Punkish Mister " she sent him a picture of her sticking out her tongue. 

"You're lucky, I'm not there...I'd grab that tongue right between my fingers."

"Haha, gonna have to do that when you get back."

" I hope I get to play with it later ."

. "Now you're just trying to provoke me," she texted with a winking emoji. "But I must admit, it's working."

 He followed up with a winking emoji. "You started it, you saucy researcher."

"I'm innocent..." she sent a blinking emoji.

"Correction: You're 'in-all-sin'," he playfully retorted with a kissy face." You're a bad berry."

"The baddest, But I'm only bad for you. " She texted with an emoticon of a pouting heart." Only for you." She texted With a few new pictures.

Steven's heart raced, and he found himself blushing at the sheer intimacy of the moments they were sharing, even through a screen.

"Can't wait for you to get back and explore my temple secrets."

Steven blushed again at the implication and felt the stirring of his arousal as he contemplated what she meant.

He tried to maintain composure, knowing that a delegate or Spinel or White could call for him, but the innuendo-filled teasing messages from Connie made it a challenge.

 He could imagine her laughing at him while looking at him like he was the only thing that mattered.

"Damn, temptress Heartberry! Two days is too long." He almost barked as he texted.

Connie laughed at his words, enjoying the idea of having that kind of effect on Steven.

"it is, but it'll be all worth it." She winked in a flirty manner, sending him a picture of her looking longingly.

Steven replied to it with a picture of him pouting at her with a sad heart.

"You're adorable.. I'll make you feel better later. " She texted with a kissing emoji, followed by a winking one.," Just make sure you get ..affggdftsfkh!"

Steven looked at the text and chuckled to himself," You're an adorable berry, Connie." He replied with a heart emoji and an excited smiley face." You ok?"

" Aww... yeah..just fell in water. Soaked."

Steven started to reply when his communicator rang with a video call. He smiled as he accepted the call, excited to hear from Connie.

"Hey, berry!" Steven greeted.

Connie's face appeared on the screen, she looked drenched, and her hair was sticking to her, " Look how wet you got me." she pouted with a coy look in her eye.

Steven chuckled as he blushed, " That's not what I meant but..." He tried to contain his excitement. “Guess you can't help but fall for me."

"Oh, how cocksure we are, Mister Punk."

"Hey, falling for me made you wet." Steven grinned smugly,” I have a right to be cocky." 

Connie's flirty heartfelt laughter resounded in the temple, she loved when he was a bit sure of himself, “Ok, that was funny." Her face eased into an innocent look. "Though, I am drenched and the light doesn't help."
 
"Says you." Steven smirked," the siren in a translucent shirt over a visible bra look works for you."

"My, you seem to have so many kinks."

"Your fault." Steven pouted," I like you. Drenched." He added as he smirked.

"Because of course, you do." Connie laughed at his words, " Oh my, how I wish you were here right now."

"What would you do if I was?"

"Now, why." She slowly unbuckled her shorts," Would I tell you" She zipped them down giving him a peek of the top of her orange tanga panties that he chose for her.. "that when..." she purred...before zipping it back up.

"Your imagination can come up with something much more." She grinned wickedly.

"Evil woman. “He remarked.

"You know it and you love it."

Steven gulped at the implication, his eyes darting down before looking at her.

"True enough." was all he could say as he gawked at her.

"Just two earth days. Or… were those that planet days. It’s sunset here.." Connie spoke, licking  her lips, "Regardless, Two days and I'll be in your arms again.." She giggled excitedly before looking longingly.

" Sheesh, lucky I get this side of you to myself." Steven chuckled. “the silly and the sexy"

"You bring it out of me."

"I can say the same to you. It’s freeing." Steven smirked, making Connie heart-skipped.

"Sheesh." She puffed her red cheeks.

"Did I make my aro-berry feel romantic?" He teased.

"Hhhhmmm." She hummed blushing more and smiled, feeling a bit shy. “This is why I tease, you know, more fun and easier."
 
"Love through playful, lusty action.. or acts of service. “Steven stated," Your love language. Prideful berry."

"Missster" she whined at the teasing, feeling  her heart bubble over."Many, making me feel all bubbly."

Steven could only laugh. His tone: full of love for his Heartberry. “Hey you had your fun, now I get to have mine, my pride."

Blushing intensely, Connie concealed her face upon hearing the affectionate nickname, "Bisky."

She adopted a more restrained tone and confessed, "You're aware that name just turns me into a puddle."

"The kind of puddle I like," Steven smirked, prompting her to burst into giggles.

 She stuck her tongue out slightly and agreed, "True."

A moment of comfortable silence settled between them. Despite the vast distance separating them, they felt an enduring closeness, intertwined by a flame of adoration that bound them.

 "So, how is your secret project coming along... and what even is it? All you said was that it would help you defy the divine. Quite a bold claim," Steven inquired with curiosity and slyness.

"I'm a bold individual."

 "And brilliant, too, Berry," he commented, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness that Connie picked up on. "So... what is it?"

"Well, it's something that, if possible, could alter the course of the future," Connie began. "But it's still solely in the realm of theory... Just know that if I can achieve this, it will undoubtedly aid me with many of my other endeavors."

"How so?"

 "By giving me a broader perspective," she explained, smiling. "It's more of a personal project."

"And this project is...?"

 "A secret," she winked, giggling at the pout on his face as it transformed into a look of pride.

"Alright, alright, I give in. I'm sure whatever you're unraveling will be world-changing."

Connie stood proudly and nodded.

"You bet. It will certainly usher in new horizons for Era 3 and beyond."

"All in your free time, huh... You never cease to advance."

"I can say the same about you. You're out there in the stars forging connections and alliances. You make me proud, Jambud."

"As do you," he replied with a yawn.

"You...should probably  get some rest, Mister." Connie offered, seeing his fatigue," Meeting like that can be draining. We can talk tomorrow, ok?"

He gave a light nod, "Yeah...thanks, Berry."
 
"Hmm, for what, annoying you when you're on a mission." She chuckled.

“For ending my day on a high note."

"That's what I'm here for, Biscuit ...besides you started mine on the same note." Connie smiled, “Now, get some rest My Punkish Mister."

"Hey, that's my line." He yawned." But yeah... sounds good."

"Alright then." She smiled at him," Sweet dreams, only two days away." She blew a kiss and disconnected.

"Two days away.." Steven sighed as he placed his communicator to the side, settling back into bed, and allowing himself to relax.

She laughed at his responses, a hint of longing in her eyes as she imagined him by her side. However, duty called, and she focused her attention back on the task at hand, closing the communication on her side.

"Ok, Ni." She urged herself, rubbing her cheeks " Let's get to work." 

Connie took a deep breath and set to work. She began her research on the project she referred to as “Era 3 and Beyond”. The project was ambitious but not impossible. She had plenty of resources at her disposal - including access to gem tech and the latest advances in technology - as well as her vast knowledge of quantum physics, metaphysics, and engineering, getting lost in her work.

Unbeknownst to Connie, Smirks observed her from a distance with a reminiscent look in her eyes. She had been tasked with kidnapping Connie, and now was the perfect opportunity to strike. Smirks smirked, relishing the challenge that lay before her.

The serene silence was shattered as three gem mutants emerged from the shadows, their intentions clear. They lunged at Connie, seeking to overwhelm her, by Smirk's order.